Logista Pharma launches the influenza vaccination campaign, forecasting 6 million doses and more than 3,200 supply points

With the launch of the vaccination campaign, Logista Pharma has rolled out a high-intensity logistics operation to ensure that nearly 6 million influenza vaccine doses reach more than 3,200 supply points, including hospitals, health centres and vaccination sites across Spain, on time and under the required conditions. Within this volume, the main laboratory with which Logista Pharma works expects to distribute more than 4.6 million vaccines this year.

Although the campaign is concentrated within a few weeks in autumn (last year, 88% of the doses distributed by Logista Pharma were delivered between September and October), it requires months of preparation. Planning covers demand forecasts, storage capacity, route and transport organisation, as well as team allocation and contingency plans to respond swiftly to any incident.

In this regard, negotiations on framework agreements and tenders with Spain's autonomous communities begin in February. This is followed by the industrial production of doses, tailored to the annual strain, and the process intensifies between July and August with logistics planning and allocation by territory.

This high level of activity requires the transport resources assigned to the campaign to be reinforced. At peak demand, the company increases its daily operation from 16 vehicles to more than 40, representing an increase of more than 150%.

Cold chain and special requirements

Pharmaceutical logistics has specific requirements that make it particularly delicate and complex, as strict storage conditions, traceability and quality controls must be guaranteed at all times throughout the entire chain. Some vaccines require specific conditions, such as storage at -20°C and -70°C, as well as specific conditioning processes.

Throughout the campaign, Logista Pharma therefore holds daily meetings with the laboratories to monitor operational progress, anticipate potential incidents and adapt resources in real time.

Ignacio Sánchez Caballero, Managing Director of Logista Pharma Iberia, states: "Behind every dose lies a coordinated and demanding operation aimed at ensuring that the vaccination campaign runs with maximum reliability, even during the few weeks of peak activity." He adds: "Thanks to logistics coordination, we can simultaneously manage campaigns with different requirements, such as influenza, RSV, COVID-19 and other vaccines, adjusting storage and transport capacities to each one."

Operations in the Community of Madrid

Alongside the general influenza campaign operation, Logista Pharma is also responsible for the logistics service covering the receipt, storage, conditioning and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines in the Community of Madrid, following the extension of the service until September 2027.

This campaign currently involves the distribution of 840,320 doses and 206,720 vials to approximately 900 delivery points.